Expositions on the Book of Psalms
Psatm V.] ON THE
PSALMS. II
mortal, and forgetfulness of this world's miseries ; which is beautifully and prophetically signified under the name of sleep and rest, where the most perfect peace cannot be interrupted by any tumult. But this is not had now in this life, but is to be hoped for after this life. This even the words themselves, which are in the future tense, show us. For it is not said, either, I have slept, and taken rest ; or, I do sleep, and take rest; but, "I will sleep, and take rest." Then shall "this corruptible put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality ; then shall death be swallowed up in victory."* Hence it is said, " But if we hope for that we see not, we wait in patience." ? that she too may herself become the inheritance of the Lord.
2. "' Hear my words, O Lord" (ver. 1). Being called she calleth upon the Lord; that the same Lord being her helper, she may pass through the wickedness of this world, and attain unto Him. "Understand my cry." The Psalmist well shows what this cry is; how from within, from the chamber of the heart, without the body's utterance,? it reaches unto God: for the bodily voice is heard, but the spiritual is understood. Although this too may be God's hearing, not with carnal ear, but in the omnipresence of His Majesty.
3. "Attend Thou to the voice of my supplication ;"' that is, to that voice, which he maketh request that God would understand: of which what the nature is, he hath already intimated, when he said, " Understand my cry. Attend Thou to the voice of my supplication, my King, and my God" (ver. 2). Although both the Son is God, and the Father God, and the Father and the Son together One God; and if asked of the Holy Ghost, we must give no other answer than that He is God; and when the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are mentioned together, we must understand nothing else, than One God; _ nevertheless Scripture is wont to give the appellation of King to the Son. According then to that which is said, "By Me man cometh to the Father,' ?° rightly is it first, "my King;" and then, "my God." And yet has not the Psalmist said, Attend Ye ;~ but, "Attend Thou' * For 'the Catholic faith preaches not two or three Gods, but the Very Trinity, One God. Not that the same Trinity can be together, now the Father, now the Son, now the Holy Ghost, as Sabellius believed: but that the Father must be none but the Father, and the Son none but the Son, and the Holy Ghost none but the Holy Ghost, and this Trinity but One God. Hence when the Apostle had said, "Of whom are all things, by wnom are all things, in whom are all things," "' he is believed to have conveyed an intimation of the Very Trinity ; and yet he did not add, to Them be glory ; but, "to Him be glory."
10. Wherefore, consistently with this, he adds the last words, and says, "' Since Thou, O Lord, in singleness hast made me dwell in hope." Here he does not say, wilt make; but, " hast made." In whom then this hope now is, there will be assuredly that which is hoped for. And well does he say, "in singleness." For this may refer in opposition to those many, who being multiplied from the time of His corn, of wine, and oil, say, " Who showeth us good things?" For this multiplicity perishes, and singleness is observed among the saints: of whom it is said in the Acts of the Apostles, "and of the multitude of them that believed, there was one soul, and one heart.''3 In singleness, then, and simplicity, removed, that is, from the multitude and crowd of things, that are born and die, we ought to be lovers of eternity, and unity, if we desire to cleave to the one God and our Lord.
PSALM VY.
1. The title of the Psalm is, " For her who receiveth the inheritance." The Church then is signified, who receiveth for her inheritance eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ ; that she may possess God Himself, in cleaving to whom she may be blessed, according to that, * Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth." 4 What earth, but that of which it is said, "Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living' ?5 And again more clearly, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." And conversely the word Church is said to be God's inheritance according to that, " Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.' 7 Therefore is God said to be our inheritance, because He feedeth and sustaineth ® us: and we are said to be God's inheritance, because He ordereth and ruleth us. Wherefore it is the voice of the Church in this Psalm called to her inheritance,
4. " Because I will pray unto 'Thee (ver. 3). O Lord, in the morning Thou wilt hear my voice." What does that, which he said above, " Hear Thou," mean, as if he desired to be heard immediately? But now he saith, "in the morning Thou wilt hear ;" not, hear Thou: and, "I will pray unto Thee;" not, I do pray unto Thee: and, as tollows, "in the morning I will stand by Thee, and will see ;" not, I do stand by Thee, and do see. Unless perhaps his former prayer marks the invocation itself: but being in 1 x Cor. xv. 54. 2 Rom. viii. 25. 3 Acts iv. 32. 4 Matt. v. 5. 5 Ps. cxlii. 5. 6 Ps, xvi. 5. 7 Ps, ii. 8. 8 Continet.
9 Strepitu. 10 John xiv. 6. tI Rom, xi. 36.